Abstract: Historically, architectural estimation, analysis and optimization has been done using either manual spreadsheets, hardware emulators, FPGA prototypes or cycle approximate/accurate simulators. Instruction-accurate software simulation, or virtual platforms, have the speed necessary to cover the range of system scenarios, can be available much earlier in the project, and are typically 5x less expensive than cycle approximate or cycle accurate simulators. Previously, because of a lack of timing information, virtual platforms could not be used for timing estimation. We report here on a technique for dynamically annotating timing information to the virtual platform results, achieving accuracy of better than +/-15%.

2. Virtual Platform Environment for the Bring Up and Test of a Secure Many-Core RTOS (Real Time Operating System), authored by Atsushi Shinbo and Shuzo Tanaka of eSOL TRINITY, Masaki Gondo of eSOL, Duncan Graham and Larry Lapides of Imperas Software.

When: February 28, 2018.

Abstract: The increasing numbers of cores in the individual SoCs, the move to multiple SoCs in Electronic Control Units (ECUs) and the increase in complexity of software for automotive electronics has led to the need for many-core support for RTOSs. In addition, security requirements on systems directly flow to security requirements on the RTOS. This increasing complexity of hardware, software and security requirements, magnifies the challenge to bring up and test the RTOS and basic software. This paper reports on the use of a virtual platform (software simulation) -based environment for bring up and testing of a secure, many-core RTOS on an ECU. The RTOS is the eMCOS RTOS from eSOL, the hardware represented in the virtual platform comprises two Renesas RH850F1H devices (SoCs), and the virtual platform tools are from Imperas.

For more information, or to set up meetings with Imperas at Embedded World, please email info@imperas.com.

Embedded World is the world’s leading meeting place for the embedded systems community. In its 16th year, the theme reflects the unbroken innovative power of the industry: “Embedded goes autonomous.” From a wide range of sensors all the way to embedded vision, systems are increasingly becoming aware of their environment, making independent decisions, and using actuators to engage with the world around them. The conference covers all aspects of the development and application of embedded systems, from basic technologies, to the development process, to special application areas. See www.embedded-world.eu for details.

Imperas invites attendees to register for a demonstration of Imperas embedded software development, debug and test solutions for ARM-based systems.

Demo Highlights:

Solutions for custom/proprietary processor modeling, early software development and comprehensive software testing. Use cases include porting and bring-up of operating systems and validation of secure software and architectures. See advanced software analysis with Imperas OS-aware verification, analysis and profiling (VAP) tools, code coverage capabilities, memory monitoring, and fault simulation.

Open Virtual Platforms (OVP) models and platforms for the full line of ARM processors, including Cortex-A, R and M families, ARM big.LITTLE architecture and multi-cluster ARMv8 architectures. See Linux booting on various Cortex-A platforms and RTOS booting on Cortex-M platforms.

Panel: Hypervisors: A Real Trend in Embedded, or Just Hype?

Abstract: Security and functional safety are two key elements of embedded system development, and increasingly system architects are looking at solutions at the point where software touches the hardware. Processor architecture changes such as hardware virtualization extensions and TrustZone, and software changes in hypervisors and real time operating systems (RTOSs) take advantage of these architectural features. What are the real differences in these hardware and software technical innovations? For processors, how do hardware virtualization extensions compare with TrustZone for use for security and safety? For resource management, safety and security, how do new hypervisor offerings stack up to the established technology of RTOS? Are hypervisors a real trend in embedded systems or just hype?

The 15th International System-on-Chip (SoC) Conference will be held October 18 – 19, 2017 at the University of California, Irvine (UCI) – Calit2. The theme for this year’s conference is “Secure and Intelligent Silicon Systems for Emerging Applications.”

Paper: RISC-V Models and Simulation Enable Early Software Bring Up

As RISC-V processor cores start to be designed into new SoCs, software requirements need to be considered. One of the issues with moving to RISC-V based SoCs is porting operating systems, drivers, firmware and applications from existing platforms. Can this be easily accomplished? Can it be accomplished, in the majority, before silicon is available? Virtual platforms, or software simulation, can help accelerate this porting and bring up process. Virtual platforms provide a near real time software simulation environment for executing the actual software binaries, plus have full debug, analysis and test tools.

Now there are not only models of RISC-V processor cores – generic RISC-V, SiFive, Andes; 32 and 64 bit cores – but also models of platforms running operating systems. These Extendable Platform Kits (EPKs) enable software engineers to quickly get started, months before any hardware, even FPGA prototypes, are available. For example, there is an EPK available of a Microsemi platform, using a SiFive E31 RV32-based core, running FreeRTOS.

Virtual platform environments also enable the use of debug, analysis and test tools, not only for RISC-V, but in the case of a heterogeneous platform, supporting the multiple processors on the platform. Also, as Agile methods, including Continuous Integration Continuous Test (CICT) are adopted by embedded software teams, virtual platforms with their ease of automation enable this technology to be implemented.

This presentation will provide a summary of the RISC-V processor models available through the Open Virtual Platforms (OVP) website (www.OVPworld.org), show a demo of the Imperas Microsemi E31/FreeRTOS EPK, and discuss the use of virtual platforms in accelerating migration to RISC-V based SoCs and improving software quality.

Imperas, the leader in high-performance software simulation and virtual platforms, announces that they are participating in the 2017 RISC-V Workshop.

The 7th RISC-V Workshop, hosted by Western Digital, in Milpitas California November 28-30 2017, brings the RISC-V community together to share information about recent activity in the various RISC-V projects underway around the globe, and build consensus on the future evolution of the instruction set.

When: November 28-30, 2017.Where: Milpitas, California.

For more information, or to set up meetings with Imperas at the upcoming 7th RISC-V workshop, please email sales@imperas.com.

See Imperas at the Linley Processor Conference 2017, October 4 – 5, 2017, at the Hyatt Regency, Santa Clara, CA. This two-day, dual-track conference, sponsored in part by the RISC-V Foundation, features technical presentations on the latest processors, IP cores, and other technology required for deep learning, servers, communications, embedded, and advanced automotive systems.

Sponsor exhibits and demos include Imperas, demonstrating virtual platforms for RISC-V designs, as part of the RISC-V booth.

When: October 4 – 5, 2017Where: Hyatt Regency, Santa Clara, CA.

This in-depth technical conference is the industry premier processor event, with over 20 technical presentations by experts from industry-leading companies, and a keynote session covering technology and market trends in processor design.The Linley Processor Conference is targeted at system designers, equipment vendors, OEM/ODMs, service providers, press, and the financial community.

For more information, or to set up meetings with Imperas, please email sales@imperas.com.

Imperas invites attendees to register for a demonstration of Imperas embedded software development, debug and test solutions for ARM-based systems.

Demo Highlights:

Solutions for custom/proprietary processor modeling, early software development and comprehensive software testing. Use cases include porting and bring-up of operating systems and validation of secure software and architectures. See advanced software analysis with Imperas OS-aware verification, analysis and profiling (VAP) tools, code coverage capabilities, memory monitoring, and fault simulation.

Open Virtual Platforms (OVP) models and platforms for the full line of ARM processors, including Cortex-A, R and M families, ARM big.LITTLE architecture and multi-cluster ARMv8 architectures. See Linux booting on various Cortex-A platforms and RTOS booting on Cortex-M platforms.

Panel: Hypervisors: A Real Trend in Embedded, or Just Hype?

Abstract: Security and functional safety are two key elements of embedded system development, and increasingly system architects are looking at solutions at the point where software touches the hardware. Processor architecture changes such as hardware virtualization extensions and TrustZone, and software changes in hypervisors and real time operating systems (RTOSs) take advantage of these architectural features. What are the real differences in these hardware and software technical innovations? For processors, how do hardware virtualization extensions compare with TrustZone for use for security and safety? For resource management, safety and security, how do new hypervisor offerings stack up to the established technology of RTOS? Are hypervisors a real trend in embedded systems or just hype?

The 15th International System-on-Chip (SoC) Conference will be held October 18 – 19, 2017 at the University of California, Irvine (UCI) – Calit2. The theme for this years conference is “Secure and Intelligent Silicon Systems for Emerging Applications.”

Paper: RISC-V Models and Simulation Enable Early Software Bring Up

As RISC-V processor cores start to be designed into new SoCs, software requirements need to be considered. One of the issues with moving to RISC-V based SoCs is porting operating systems, drivers, firmware and applications from existing platforms. Can this be easily accomplished? Can it be accomplished, in the majority, before silicon is available? Virtual platforms, or software simulation, can help accelerate this porting and bring up process. Virtual platforms provide a near real time software simulation environment for executing the actual software binaries, plus have full debug, analysis and test tools.

Now there are not only models of RISC-V processor cores – generic RISC-V, SiFive, Andes; 32 and 64 bit cores – but also models of platforms running operating systems. These Extendable Platform Kits (EPKs) enable software engineers to quickly get started, months before any hardware, even FPGA prototypes, are available. For example, there is an EPK available of a Microsemi platform, using a SiFive E31 RV32-based core, running FreeRTOS.

Virtual platform environments also enable the use of debug, analysis and test tools, not only for RISC-V, but in the case of a heterogeneous platform, supporting the multiple processors on the platform. Also, as Agile methods, including Continuous Integration Continuous Test (CICT) are adopted by embedded software teams, virtual platforms with their ease of automation enable this technology to be implemented.

This paper provides a summary of the RISC-V processor models available through the Open Virtual Platforms (OVP) website (www.OVPworld.org), shows a demo of the Imperas Microsemi E31/FreeRTOS EPK, and discusses the use of virtual platforms in accelerating migration to RISC-V based SoCs and improving software quality.